Spermophagy by follicular cumulus cells in the Common Brushtail Possum <i>Trichosurus vulpecula</i> following co-culture of sperm and immature ovarian oocytes

This is a pilot study to investigate the effects of incubating cumulus oophorus-encased ovarian oocytes of the common brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecuila ) with cauda epididymal sperm to determine if sperm could penetrate the cumulus oophous and thereby remove the need to mechanically denude in vitro matured ovarian oocyctes, and if sperm-zona binding would occur under these conditions. No fertilisation or sperm-zona pellucida binding took place. Some spermatozoa within the cumulus oophorus layer were phagocytosed.